December 7 2003

Kit Symons

Caretaker-boss KIT SYMONS has promised to work hard at the training ground to eradicate the defensive mistakes which cost Palace the game in the 4-1 defeat at Preston.

He said: "Me and Stuart Gary have put a lot of work into the defending side of the team and so it was not good to see our part in their goals.

"We will have to continue to work hard at the training ground but in match situations we must be better organised to make sure these errors don't happen.

"From a personal point of view this was a bad day at the office, both as a player and manager.

"On the sending off I felt unfortunate because as we went for the ball both me and Ricardo Fuller were arms and legs which saw us both go down in a heap.

"With ten men it was always going to be difficult chasing a 2-0 but the lads showed some great character and it looked like we could nick something."

He added: "It was quite an open first half and we could have had our own spot-kick early on when Shaun Derry went down but it was not to be and you have to put it behind you.

"To concede the first goal in the way we did was disappointing as it came from us having the advantage with a free-kick at the other end. We now have two home games in a week and it is how we respond to this defeat that matters.

"If we can get two good results then six points from nine will not be quite so bad - it's all about how you bounce back after a setback and this week will show us that."